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I've been thinking about a pose-able robot model for a while, it'll have bendy arms, mavable head, that sort of thing. I must have been thinking about it last night when I went to sleep because when I woke up this morning I had the claw all worked out. I know from experience that if I ignore these moments of lucidity they quickly evapourate so, just for today, I've set aside the escapement, my current main project, and spent the day putting together....   The Paper Claw!

I've made the file available for members to download for free in the usual place. Have fun!

Print the single parts sheet onto thin card. (230 micron / 230 gsm - is there a different US unit for thin card? I know how you like your imperial units) Score along the dotted lines and cut out the parts.

Fold up and glue together the main arm.

Assemble each of the three claw parts as shown above. Notice that the tab sticks out and the triangular section at the bottome is made from valley folds.

The three fingers completed.

Make the triangular based pyramid. This will be the arm end cap.

Fol round and glue the slider sleive.

Make up the handle as shown above.

Glue the tab on the first of the claws to the inside of the arm. Make sure that it is linied up accurately and is free to move back and forth.

Repeat the process for the other two fingers.

Fit the end cap into place. Make sure that you don't press it in too far as it's really tricky to get out. (I know, I tried it)

Thread the slider sleave over the arm.

Complete the prototype by gluing the long tabs to the triangular sections on the fingers.

That's it. Go out and take over the worls with your paper claw!

Back to the escapement for me; perhaps a coffee first :-)

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£2.50

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This Much Robot, press down on the head of this delightful paper robot and the arms open wide. "I love you this much!" The arms use a simple concertina mechanism to open and close.

Print out the parts onto thin card, follow the instructions and make your own  "This Much" robot. This model was originally published on the Workshop Notes blog and is free for members to download. Non members can download the file for a small fee.

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Just finished a colour version of the Belt Powered Robot - Beltbot.

I've gone for a sort of steam-punk theme. Wood, brass and leather colours.

For the first time with a model I've mixed photoshop and illustrator in the parts layouts, this has given me the chance to add a wood effect as well as  shadows and bevels.

I've completed the instructions photography so the completed model should be online soon.

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I've re-done the layout of the Moire pattern robot. I took photographs as I was making it and have put them together to make it into a quick and fun project.. There is a link at the bottom of this post for members to download the parts. What do you mean you're not a member?! Don't worry, you can sign up here.

You'll need the usual tools. Scissors, sharp knife a ruler and some PVA glue. Download the file at the end of this post. Print out the first two pages onto thin card and the third onto paper. Score along all the dotted line then cut out the parts carefully and accurately.

Fold round and make the core as shown above. The flap I'm holding above tucks inside and glues down like the one at the other end of the core. The end result is an oval shaped core.  

Wrap the paper belt round the core and glue the end down onto the grey area on the belt. The belt should be free to move round the core but not too loose. Make sure no glue gets between the core

Glue the two legs into place on the side of the core. The top edge of the legs line up with the edge of the core. Move the belt round so that the join on the belt lines up with the edge of core. (Arrowed)

Spread a 10mm wide area of glue across the width of the belt as shown.

Line the top of the belt with the top of the body and press down the glued area only the inside back of the body. Make sure the core and the body are lined up.

Fold the body round the core and glue it together.

On each side of the body lift the two short tabs slightly. (Arrowed)

Pull the legs so that the two grey semi-circular glue pads are visible through the arm holes. 

Glue the two arms into place on the core.

Complete the model by curving the eye shaft gently and gluing it to the back of the body then gluing on the feet.

Once the glue is dry pull the body up and down and the arms rise up and down whilst the moire pattern effect makes animated effect in the mouth. 

I hope you enjoy this quick, fun project. Add colour, use coloured card to print out the parts or try making the robot with silvered card!

My plan is to take this core mechanism and use it within a fully coloured kit which I'll add to the shop - though of course it will be free for my marvellous members to download just as this project is.

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I'm experimenting with using a Moire interference pattern to make a model's mouth look like it is moving.

I've constructed a core - shown above, around which I've run a paper belt with angled stripes. The core is my usual brand of thin card whilst the belt is made of paper to keep it flexible.

The belt fits around the core slightly loosely and is free to move.

I fixed the back of the paper belt to the back of the body, now as the legs are pulled up and down relative to the body the belt will roll round the core.

I then wrapped the body round the core and glued it closed.

I've added eyes and arms to finish off the model. Now as the body moves up and down the mouth makes an interesting interference pattern! I'm going to try out a couple of different angles with the mouth and the stripes but should have a prototype for you to play with soon.

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I'm delighted to say that I've had a tutorial published on the Tuts network.

Visit their website and have a go at the be-clawed paper robot model.

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The Grrrobot model is now ready to download. Crack out your printers and prepare to take over the world!

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Made a few changes to the model, including expanding the body a little to free movement a little. After which I've assembled the parts and worked out the numbers.

I've added the numbers to the parts file and am making a start of adding the colours. To complete the day I've had a fantastic meeting with my business advisor,  lots of interesting idea swirling though my head!

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Hot on the heels of the paper robot mechanism comes the amazing Grrrobot! Using the same gravity field mechanism the Grrrobot is sure to terrify all those who come face to face with it.

Once I have built my robot army I will take over the world!

The world I say!!

Mwah hah haaaa!

Now, where is my jar of 2p coins.

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No printer ink from the postman this morning. I've pressed the laser printer into service - it is not very good on card, I think the fuser isn't hot enough. Anyway - it did the job and has let me construct a few experiments in robot geometry.

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